Liquid and cup dispensing apparatus



April 15, 1958 s. D. POLSEN Em' 2,830,627

LIQUID AND CUP DISPNSING APPARATUS f 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29,1955 I agg-55:22

. :inventos .SAMUEL D. PULEEN AND EVEN HERBERT NELE'DN lor Gttorneg s'.D. PoLsl-:N ET AL 2,830,627

LIQUID AND CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS April 15, 1958 3 Sheeets-Sheei'l 2Filed April 29, 1955 :Suventors EIAMLIEJ.. D. FDLEEN AND .SVEN HERBERTNELSN ttomeg April 15, 1958 s. D. PoLsr-:N ET AL 2,830,527

LIQUID AND CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS 43 Gttomeg United States Patent2,830,627 LIQUED AND CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS Samuel D. Poison and SvenHerbert Nelson, Fairfield, Conn.

Appiication April 29, 1955, Serial No. 504,788 16 Claims. (Cl. 141-174)The present invention relates to a cup dispensing apparatus,particularly for incorporation in an automatic liquid dispensing machineof the coin slot type which is adapted, through a cycle of operationinitiated through the insertion of a coin, to dispense a measuredquantity of liquid, such, for instance, as milk, from a container into apaper cup. In such a machine, the liquid container is disposed in arefrigerator cabinet normally closed by a door, and in which door thecup dispensing apparatus is mounted in such relation that during eachcycle of operation a cup is dropped into place to receive a measuredquantity of liquid from the container. The cup, during the fillingoperation, is disposed in a compartment which is normally closed by alift type glass window, and the lled cup is removable from thecompartment upon lifting the window.

r1`he present invention relates especially to an improved cup dispensingunit for mounting in the door of the refrigerator cabinet, and is animprovement over the cup dispensing apparatus disclosed in our U. S.patent for Dispensing Apparatus, No. 2,426,707 dated September 2, 1947.Vending apparatus of this type is usually placed in public places, suchas schools, factories, bus terminals, etc., and a prime consideration intheir maintenance is the provision of such an apparatus which is freefrom contamination by the hands of persons using the machine, as well asone which is eifectually protected against theft and vandalism.

It-is an object of the present invention to provide a cup dispensingunit in which these purposes are accomplished to a high degree, andparticularly it is proposed to provide a unit in which means is providedwhich is automatically moved into a position to guard the spout of thecontainer against Contact of the hands or eX- traneous objects when theapparatus is opened to remove the r'ilied cup.

A further object is to provide an apparatus in which automatic means isprovided to etfectively close the drop chutes or passageways in the unitextending from the cup feeding devices to the cup support upon which thecup is supported beneath the spout during iilling, to the end that whenthe glass window of the cup compartment is opened it is impossible foranyone to reach the cups depending from the cup feeding devices toeither remove or contaminate them. This is of particular importance inthe automatic cycling machine contemplated herein, where the cups areprovided in two feeding devices which are alternately operated torelease a cup, and in which the number of cups dispensed determines, toa large extent, the amount ot' liquid that has been removed from thecontainer. Obviously, the unauthorized removal of cups would not onlyinterfere with the proper cycling of the machine, but would prevent theproper determination through the number of cups dispensed of the amountof liquid consumed.

A further object is to provide a cup dispensing unit 2,830,627 PatentedApr. 15, 1958 in which the several parts are readily removable byauthorizedpersons for cleaning purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understoodthat lthe invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the dispensing machine having a cupdispenser according to the invention, the same being shown in its normalcondition with the door closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the door open;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cup dispensing unit;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the cup dispensing unit with the hingedclosure panel thereof in open position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section taken along theline 5-S of Fig. 3 g

Fig. 6 is a top plan View, on an enlarged scale, partly in horizontalsection, taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, the cup feeding devicesbeing removed;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 7 of Fig. 3,and showing in dot-and-dash lines a cup in position to receive liquidfrom the pouring spout of the container;

y Fig. 8 is a front elevation showing the glass window raised to removea filled cup;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the cup guard member removed from theapparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l and 2thereof, the cup dispensing unit of the invention is adapted to beincorporated in a coin slot vending machine of the type consisting of arefrigerator cabinet 10, having a compartment 1l in which a liquidcontainer 12 is placed, and which compartment is normally closed by ahinged door 13 on which the cup dispensing unit of the invention,generally indicated as 14, is mounted in such relation thatvin theclosed position of the door the spout 15 of the container engages Withinthe unit, so that upon cycling of the machine to dispense a measuredquantity of liquid, as, for instance, milk, such measured quantity isdirected from the spout into a cup disposed within the unit, the filledcup being accessible to the patron of the machine from the outer side ofthe door, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Within the cabinet there is provided suitable refrigeration means, inthe case of a cold liquid to be served, such as milk, or suitableheating means, in the case of hot liquid, such as soup. In the upperpart thereof there is provided suitable mechanism which operates adipper within the container to dispense a measured quantity through thespout during each cycle of operation.

Mounted upon the inner side of the door, above the cup dispensing unit,are a pair of cup feeding devices 16-i6, each containing a stack ofnested paper cups and which are alternately operated to deliver a singlecup from their respective lower ends, these devices being operated bysuitable gearing i7 which in the closed position of the door meshes withan operating gear 18 which is rotated during each cycle to operate thecup feeding devices. These devices are preferably of the type asdisclosed in our U. S. patent for Cup Dispenser, No. 2,556,- 740 datedlune l2, i951, and each consists of a pair of vertical screws 319-19,the gearing being such that during each cycle the screws are rotated ataken along the line half turn. The screws of one device are offset 180from the screws of the other device, so that during a half turn of onedevice a cup is released and during the simultaneous half turn of theother device the `cup of such latter device is retained. Thus the cupdevices are alternately operated,^one device delivering a cup during onecycle and the other device delivering a cup during the succeeding cycle.

The cabinet door 13 is of conventional refrigerator door construction,comprising a pair of spaced parallel outer and inner panels 20 and 21,and within suitably spaced openings 22 and 23 respectively providedtherein the cup dispensing unit of the invention is mounted. This unitcomprises a body frame part indicated generally as 24, having a frontplate portion 25 provided with an opening defined by a rearwardlyextending framing wall 26 extended through the opening 22 of the frontpanel 20 with its rearward edge projecting inwardly through the opening23 of the panel 21. The framing wall 26 comprises a lower wall portioninclined upwardly and rearwardly at a relatively small angle, verticalside wall portions inclined inwardly and rearwardly at a substantiallygreater angle, and an arched top wall portion inclined downwardly andrearwardly at a still greater angle. Thus the space defined by theframing wall 26 flares outwardly from the inner to the outer side of thedoor.

As seen in Fig. 5, the side wall portions of the framing wall 25 areprovided on their outer sides with screw receiving post portions 27and28 which serve to secure the body frame part within the door by meansof a U-shaped frame member 29 provided at the rearward side of the doorand secured as by welding or the like to the door panel 21, so that itoutlines the lower and side edges of the opening 23, the inner edges ofthe frame member engaging the rearwardly projecting marginal portions ofthe bottom and side wall portions of the framing wall 26. Its verticalsides project inwardly from the vertical edges of the opening 23 andengage the inner ends of the post portions 2.7 and 2S which are securedthereto by screws 30 screwed into the post portions, thus drawing theinner surface `of the plate portion 2S of the body frame part tightlyagainst the forward surface of the door panel 20 in surrounding relationto the opening 22. Upon the arched upper wall portion of the framingwall 26 there are formed a pair of screw receiving bosses 31-31 which,in the assembled relation, are flush with the outer surface of the doorpanel 21 and which are adapted, as will presently more fully appear, tosecure the chute part of the unit to the body frame part 24. 4

Within the lower half of the opening of the body frame part 24 there isremovably engaged a cup supporting tray part indicated generally as 32,and which consists of a horizontal bottom wall 33 having its forwardmarginal edge portion curved upwardly as at 3d, vertical side walls35-35, each comprising a forward outwardly flared portion and a rearwardstraight portion, and a generally vertical rear Wall 36. The upper edges37 of the side walls 35 of the tray part are inclined downwardly andrearwardly at a slight angle, and the side wall portions `of the framingwall 24 are respectively provided with recesses 38-38 of a depthcorresponding to the thickness of the side walls 35 and within whichtheir forward flared portions are seated in the assembled relation. Thebottom wall 33 of the tray part is provided at the underside of itsforward portion with a pair of ribs 39-39 having inclined lower edgeswhich rest upon the inclined lower wall portion of the framing wall 26.Thus the tray part, in the exposed condition of the body frame part 24of the unit, as seen in Fig. 4, is removable from the forward side ofthe unit. When inserted into the unit from the forward side, it isretained in place through closing of the hinged closure panel 4d of theunit, presently to be more fully described. In the assembled relation ofthe tray part, the inner surface of the forward flared portions of itsside walls 35 are flush with the inner flared surfaces of the framingwall 26 above the recesses 38, and the forward edges of the side walls35 and the bottom wall 33 are flush with the forward surface of theplate portion 2S of the body frame part 24 and thus define a spacewithin the unit having an entrance opening, indicated at 41 in Fig. 4.

The closure panel 40 is provided with an opening 42 in substantialregistry with the entrance opening 41, and at its marginal edge with aperipheral flange d3 which surrounds the edge of the plate portion 25 ofthe body frame part 24, and defines a recess 44 in which a window forthe openings 41 and 42 is mounted for vertical movement, as willpresently more fully appear. The closure panel is hingedly mounted atone vertical edge by means cf a hinge 45, the leaves of which arerespectively secured to the panel 20 and to the marginal edge portion ofthe closure panel, and at its other edge is provided with a pocketportion 46 open at its inner side and which encloses means for latchingthe closure panel in closed position.

The latching means consists of a tubular post 47 provided upon therearward side of a projecting ear 48 provided upon one vertical edge ofthe plate portion 25, and which tits within the pocket 46 in the closedposition of the closure panel. The post 47 projects through an vopening49 in the inner door panel 21, and at its inner end there is provided alever handle 50 of a shaft 51 extending through the post and provided atits forward end with a radially projecting latching lug 52 forwardlyspaced from the forward surface of the ear d8, a latching web portion 53being provided in the upper portion of the pocket 46 in vertical linewith the space between the latching lug 52 and the forward surface ofthe ear.

ln the open position of the closure panel 40, as seen in Fig. 4, thelatching lug 52 is downwardly disposed and the closure panel may beclosed without interference o-f the latching web 53 with the latchinglug. In order to latch the closure panel, the handle 50 is turned tobring the latching lug 52 into an upwardly projecting position where itengages the forward surface of the latching web 53 and thereby latchesthe closure panel closed. Thus the closure panel is latched or unlatchedfrom thc inner side of the door 13 of the refrigerator cabinet, and asthis is provided with a key lock which can only be opened by authorizedpersons, it is seen that only authorized persons can open the closurepanel.

The window 54 for the openings 41 and 42 consists of a pane of glass 55and a frame 56 engaged about the edges of the glass, the outsidedimensions of the vertical sides of the frame being such that the panelis vertically slidable within the recess 44, and the inner edge of theframe substantially corresponding in outline to the respective openings41 and 42 of the body frame part 24 and the closure panel 4). The lowerside of the frame 56 is provided with a lift handle 57 projectingoutwardly and resting in a recess 5S in the lower edge of the opening 42in the closed position of the window. In the open position of thewindow, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, its upper arched edge is engagedwith the upper end of the recess 44 which is arched as at 59 to conformthereto.

The cup delivering chute part 6i), which is adapted to guide the cupsalternately delivered by the cup feeding devices 16 to a substantiallycentral position in the tray part 32, comprises a pair of clamshell-likemembers 61 and 62 having an elongated open upper end in the respectivesides of which the lower cups C of the pair of cup feeding devices 1.6depend, and the side walls of which curve downwardly and inwardly to acentrally disposed opening 63 of the member 62 through which theindividual cups are adapted to drop into the tray in upright position.rl'he chute member 61 is xedly secured to the body frame part 24 byscrews 64 engaged in the bosses 31-31, and is provided at the respectiveends of its lower edge with seating anges 65--65 against which the upperinclined edges 37 of the tray part 32 engages, and at the respectiveends of its upper edge with horizontally extending flanges 66-66 uponwhich the base member 67, in which the lower ends of the screws 19 ofthe cup feeding devices 16 have bearing engagement, is secured by screws68.

The chute member 62 is removably secured to the member 61 so that it maybe readily removed for cleaning purposes, the member 61 having at eachof its opposite sides a projecting ear 69 in which is secured arearwardly projecting pivot stud 70, and the member 62 having at each ofits opposite sides a projecting hook 71 which, in the assembledrelation, is hooked over the stud 7d. The member 62 is releasablyretained at each side by means of a latching lever 72 pivotally secured-upon the end of the stud 70 by a screw 73, and having an arcuratelatching tiange 74 which in the latched position, as shown in Figs. 4 6,frictionally engages the upper side of the hook 71 to thus retain thehook upon the stud. By swinging the latching lever downwardly the hookis cleared so that it may be readily disengaged from the stud to removethe chute member 62. At its `lower edge the chute member is providedwith a seating ange 75 aligned with the flanges 65 of the chute mem-lber 61, and against which the upper edges 37 of the tray part engage inthe assembled relation.

ln the rear wall of the chute member 62 there is provided a spoutreceiving opening 76, from the side and top walls of which a spoutcovering hood portion 77 extends inwardly, and which is open at itslower side so that the spout 15 of the container 12 may engage withinthe member 77 with its outlet end directed downwardly toward the centralarea of the tray where a cup is adapted to be disposed to receive liquidtherefrom, as will presently more fully appear. The side walls of thehood portion are inclined inwardly, and in addition to providing a guidesurface for the cups moving downwardly through the chute at each side,serve to provide a centering means for the spout 1S, it being pointedout that when the door 13 is closed the spout will enter the opening 76and will thereupon engage the inclined side walls of the hood portion 77so that should the container 12 be slightly out of line, the inclinedside walls will cam it into a position inv which the spout is centrallyaligned, thus insuring a proper positioning of the spout with respect tothe cup dispensing unit.

In each of the downwardly curved side walls of the chute part there isprovided a slot '78, by recessing the rearward edge of the chute member61 to form one side of the slot, and the other side of the slot beingformed by the forward edge of the chute member 62. Within each slotthere is disposed an arm 79 having a hub portion 80 at its outer endpivotally engaged upon the respective stud 7@ between the ear 69 of themember 61 and the hook 71 of the member 62, it being pointed out thatwith this mounting arrangement of the arm it may be readily removed fromthe stud for cleaning purposes upon removal of the member 62.

At its lower end, the arm is provided with a iinger projection S1 whichextends rearwardly into a pocket 82 in the lower end of the chute member62 cut into the transverse edge of the opening 63, the edge of thelinger 81 being in line with the transverse edge of the opening 63 andthe end of the arm 79 projecting slightly beyond the edge of the ringer,for a purpose presently to more fully appear. The linger 81 has itsupper surface downwardly otiset from the upper surface of the arm 79,and the downwardly curved surface of the side wall of the member 62 isgradually downwardly offset from the upper side of the arm, so that atits lower edge terminating in the recess 62 it is flush with thedownwardly offset surface of the finger 31. The upper surface of the arm79 is iiush with the downwardly curved side wall of the member 61 sothat, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the chute is divided by the arminto forward and rearward portions, the rearward portion being slightlydownwardly oiset from the forward portion and the arm forming adownwardly curved shoulder. This serves to guide the lower ends of thecups C toward the back wall of the member 62 as they drop from thefeeding devices into the chute, and insures against the possibility ofthe cups assuming av diagonal position where they may become jammed.

It is pointed out at this point that the arms 79 normally lie in theslots 78 to form parts of the guiding walls of the chute, while a cup isguided downwardly from one or the other of the feeding devices to acentral position in the tray and also during the filling of the cup.However, after the filling ofthe cup and when the cup compartment isopened to remove the cup, means presently to be more fully describedswings the arms 79 upwardly to a position as shown in Figs. 8 and 9,where `the lingerA portions 81 thereof are disposed directly beneath thespout 15 to thus provide a guard which prevents anyone reaching into thedispensing unit from touching the spout and thus tampering with orcontaminating it.

The central opening 63 of the member 62 in the lower end of the chutepart is of substantially rectangular outline, and at its forward end itopens into an arched opening S3 in the forward wall of the chute member61, spaced parallel side edges @iM-84, aligned with the parallel sideedges of the opening 63, being inclined downwardly and inwardly fromstop shoulder portions 65 at the lower ends of the arched opening 83. Ateach side of the opening S3, and outwardly of the side edges 84, thefront wall of the chute member 61 is provided with a recess 86 which isinclined downwardly and inwardly and which, at the inner side of thechute member 61, forms a convexly curved portion 37 which guides thecups toward the back wall of the chute as they move downwardly therein.

A cup guard and arm operating part 88 is mounted -for vertical slidingmovement within the rectangular opening defined at its front and rear bythe front and rear walls of the chute and at its sides by the side edgesof the opening 63 and the side edges 84 of the opening 83, and comprisesa front wall portion 39 having an arched upper edge 90, from which aguide stem 91 extends upwardly, the front wall portion S9 and the guidestern 91 being slidably engaged within a recess 92 provided upon theinner side of the front wall of the chute member 61. The lower part ofthis recess is relatively wide to receive and guide the wall portion 89and the upper portion is relatively narrow to receive and guide the stemportion 91.

The front wall portion 89 is provided with an opening 93 having anarched upper edge which, in the lowered position of the guard member,registers with the arched opening S3 of the chute part, its lower edgeforming the upper side of an arched transverse bar portion 94, upon theforward side of which there is provided an arched boss 95, adapted toengage with the arched edge of the opening 83 of the chute member in theraised position of the guard member, and from the center of which ahook-like lift linger 96 projects forwardly. This lift finger has itshook end in the path of an apertured lug 97 secured upon the inner sideof the lower edge of the frame 56 of the window 54, so that when thewindow is moved from its lowered position, as seen in Figs. 4 and 7, toits raiser position, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the lift nger is engagedby the lug and thus moves the cup guard part upwardly.

At the side edges of the front wall 89 there are provided rearwardlyprojecting parallel wing portions 98-98 which extend along thetransverse sides of the rectangular chute opening. Each wing portion hasa vertical rear edge 99 which is parallel and contiguous to the rearwall of the chute member 62, an upper edge including a forward edgeportion 100 inclined downwardly and inwardly to a vertical shoulderportion 101 and a horizontally extending rearward portion 102, thislatter portion being engaged,

beneath the projected end of the respective arm 79 in the loweredposition of the cup guard part. In the lowered position of the cup guardpart, the upper inclined edge portions 100 are substantially in linewith the inclined edge portions 84 of the chute opening, so that in thislowered position the upper edges of the wing portions are substantiallyin line with the lower edges of the respective sides of the chute.

The lower edge of each wing portion includes a forward inclined portion103 which, in the raised position of the cup guard part as seen in Fig.9, is in with the tive inclined edge 84 of the chute opening, and ahorizontally extending rearward edge portion 194 which is substantiallyparallel to the upper edge portion 102 and which, in the raised positionof the cup guard, is in line with the respective side edge of theopening Thus; in the lowered position of the cup guard, the wings extenddownwardly from the lower end of the chute into the tray part andprovide a confining space for receiving the cup to be filled, the chutespace above the upper edges of the wings being clear to allow a cup toslide downwardly from the cup feeding devices.

In the raised position of the cup guard part, the wing portions 99extend above the lower end of each side of the chute and form barrierwalls which prevent access of a persons hand upwardly through the chuteto the cups depending from the cup feeding devices.

At the lower end of the stem portion 91 there is provided a rearwardlyprojecting lin portion 19S which, in the -lowered position of the cupguard, provides a stop wall which, in cooperation with the spoutenclosing hood 77, aids in guiding the cups downwardly in the chute. Inthe raised position of the cup guard part, this lin provides anadditional barrier means within the chute to thwart any attempt to reachthe cups of the cup feeding devices by a persons hand inserted into theunit.

The guide stem 91 is provided at its upper end with a rearwardly curvedhook portion 106 which, in the lowered position of the cup guard part,is adapted to engage a stop member 106 secured upon the base portion 67of the cup feeding devices to limit the downward movement of the guardpart. The stop member 137 is of inverted U- shape and straddles an opencentral space 103 of the base portion 67, so as to provide a clear wayfor removal of the guard part for cleaning purposes, when desired. Thisis accomplished by first removing the chute member 62 and the tray part32, and thereupon swinging the guard part rearwardly, the curved hookend 166 of the stem 91 being rotated around the stop member until it isreleased therefrom.

Upon the rearward side of the arched bar portion 94 there is provided arearwardly projecting boss M9 rounded at its upper edge, and whichserves to position the cup by engaging the beaded upper edge thereof,the rearward wall of the chute member 61 having a shouldered notch 11i)therein in which the opposite edge of the bead rests, as shown clearlyin Fig. 9.

The rearward wall of the tray part is provided centrally with aninwardly and downwardly inclined rib-like indentation 111 having aninclination corresponding to the inclination of the side wall of the cupand which serves to position the cup ori the tray part. In the bottomwall 33 of the tray part there is provided an opening 112 through whichspilled liquid may iow from the tray, the rearward wall of this openinghaving a projection lip 113 upc-n which the rearward portion of the baseof the cup rests, the forward edge of the opening being spaced from thelip a distance substantially less than the diameter of the lower end ofthe cup.

The operation Vis as follows: Upon the start of a cycle of operation ofthe machine, initiated through the insertion of a coin, the cupdispensing apparatus is in the condition as illustrated in Fig. 3, thewindow 54 being in its closed position and the cup guard member SS beinglowered. Thereupon a cup is released by one or the other of the cupfeeding devices 16 and is guided by the chute means into the cupsupporting tray member 32 where it is positioned between the wingportions 98 of the cup guard part 83, as shown in dot-and-dash lines inFigs. 4 and 7. The milk dispensing means of the container 12 thereupondispenses a measured quantity, i. e., -a cup full, of liquid through thespout 15 which flows into the cup. When the cup is filled, as Ican bedetermined by viewing the operation through the window S4, the window israised to remove the filled cup, the raising of the window causing theerr nArti-d part to be moved to the raised position as shown in Figs. 8and 9, the wing members 98 in such raised position constituting barriersto access of the cups at each side of the chute part, and the arms 79being swung upwardly by contact of the edges 1&2 of the wing memberstherewith into position to dispose the finger end portions l in guardingrelation to the spout l5'. Thus when the window is opened it isimpossible for a persons hand to either tamper with or remove the cupsfrom the stacks or to come into contact with the spout. Upon closing ofthe window, the cup guard member moves downwardly to its loweredposition determined by the engagement of the hook end 106 of the stem 91with the stop 107, in which position the wing members 98 are disposedbelow the two sides of the chute and the arms 79 are swung to theirnormal positions within the chute.

When the stacks of cups are to be replaced, the door 13 is opened andthe chute member 62 is removed by releasing it from the chute member 61through downward swinging of the latching levers 72, thus providing alaterally free space for placing new stacks of cups in position in thefeeding devices 16. When it is desired to clean the several parts of thedispensing apparatus, the door 13 is opened, the chute member 62 isremoved by releasing the latch members 72, the closure panel itl isopened by releasing its latch means from the inner side of the door byoperation of the lever 50, whereupon the window 54 may be removed fromthe closure panel and the tray part 32 removed forwardly from the bodyframe part 24. The cup guard member 38 is raised to the position asshown in Fig. 9 during the removal of the tray part, and may thereuponbe swung out of the chute part by disengaging its hook end 166 from thestop member 107.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container havingv a spout, a cup supportingmember having a compartment opening to the outer side of said door, awindow member normally closing said compartment and movable to aposition to open said compartment for the removal of a iilled cup, chutemeans at the inner side of said door having a passage leading to saidcompartment adapted to deliver cups individually released to saidcompartment, spout receiving means above said compartment for receivingthe spout of said container in a position to deliver liquid to a cupsupported in said compartment, a movable chute guard member disposed incooperative relation to the cup delivering end of said passage of saidchute means which in one operative position is disposed innon-obstructing relation to said end of said cup delivering passage topermit delivery of a cup therefrom and in another operative position isdisposed in obstructing relation to said passage to retain a cuptherein, and means adapted through the opening of said window member tomove said chute guard member to said passage obstructing position.

2. The invention as defined in claim l, wherein said chute guard memberis vertically movable and includes a barrier wall portion having upperand lower edges, said upper edge in said one operative position beingsubstantially in line with the inner end of said passage and said loweredge in said other operative position being substantially in line withsaid inner end of said passage.

3. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a cup supportingmember having a compartment opening to the outer side of said door, awindow member normally closing said compartment and movable to aposition to open said compartment for the removal of a filled cup, chutemeans at the inner side of said door having a pair of passagesrespectively at opposite sides of and leading to said compartmentadapted to deliver cups individually released to said compartment, spoutreceiving means above said compartment for receiving the spout of saidcontainer in a position to deliver liquid to a cup supported in saidcompartment, a movable chute guard member disposed incooperative'relation to the cup delivering ends of said passages of saidchute means which in one operative position is disposed innon-obstructing relation to said ends of said cup delivering passages topermit delivery `of cups therefromand in another operative position isdisposed in obstructing relation to said passages to`retain cupstherein, and means adapted through the opening of said window member tomove said chute guard member to said passage obstructing position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said chute guard memberis vertically movable and includes a pair of laterally spaced barrierwall portions respectively adjacent the inner ends of said passages anddefining a cup receiving space between them, each having upper and loweredges, said upper edges in said one operative position beingsubstantially in line with the inner ends of said passages and saidlower edges in said other operative position being substantially in linewith said inner ends of said passages.

5. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinet, aliquid container having a downwardly directed spout having a liquiddispensing passage terminating in the lower delivery end ofrsaid spout,a cup supporting member having a compartment opening to the outer sideof said door, a window member normally closing said compartment andmovable to a position to open said compartment for the removal of afilled cup, chute means at the inner side of said door having a passageleading to said compartment adapted to deliver cups individuallyreleased to said compartment, spout receiving means above saidcompartment for receiving the spout of said container in a position todeliver liquid to a cup supported in said compartment, spout guard meansnormally disposed out of relation to the delivery end of said spout andmovable into guarding relation directly below said spout and blockingsaid liquid dispensing passage to the delivering end of said spout, andmeans adapted through the opening of said window member to move saidspout guard means to spout guarding position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said` spout guard meanscomprises an arm pivoted at its outer end to said chute means andnormally lying along said passage, its inner end adapted upon upwardswinging of said arm to move into spout guarding relation to said spout.l

7. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said spout guard meanscomprises an arm pivoted at its outer end to said chute means andnormally lying substantially along the median line ofsaid passage, thesurface of said passage forwardly of said arm Vbeing substantially flushtherewith and the surface rearwardly of said arm being downwardlyoffset, said arm having a downwardly offset finger portion at its innerend normally flush with said downwardly offset surface of said passageadapted upon upward swinging of said arm to move into spout guarding'relation to said spout.

8. in a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a cup supportingmember having a compartment opening to the outer side of said door, awindow member normally closing said compartment and movable to aposition to open said compartment for the removal of a filled cup, chutemeans at the inner side of said door having a pair of passagesrespectively at opposite sides of and leading to said compartmentadapted to deliver cups individually released to said compartment, spoutreceiving means above said compartment for receiving the spout of saidcontainer in a position to deliver liquid to a cup supported in saidcompartment, a pair of spout guard means in said respective passagesnormally disposed out of relation to the delivery end of said spout andmovable into guarding relation to said spout, and means adapted throughthe opening of said window member to move said spout guard means tospout guarding position.

9. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a cup supportingmember having a compartment opening to the outer side of said door, awindow member normally closing said compartment and movable to aposition to open said compartment for the removal of a filled cup, chutemeans at the inner side of said door having a passage leading to saidcompartment adapted to deliver cups individually released thereto tosaid compartment, spout receiving means above said compartment forreceiving the spout of said container in a position to deliver liquid toa cup supported in said compartment, a movable cup guard member which inone operative position is disposed in non-obstructing relation to saidcup delivering passage and in another operative position is disposed inobstructing relation to said passage, spout guard means normallydisposed out of relation to the delivery end of said spout and movableinto guarding relation to said spout, and means adapted through theopening of said window member to move said cup guard member to saidpassage obstructing position and said spout guard means to said spoutguarding position.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said cup guard memberincludes a portion engageable with said spout guard means to move thelatter into spout guarding relation as said cup guard member is movedinto said passage obstructing position.

11. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a cup supportingmember having a compartment opening to thel outer side of said door, awindow member normally closing said compartment and movable to aposition to open said compartment for the removal of a filled cup, chutemeans at the inner side of said door having a pair of passagesrespectively at opposite sides of and leading to said compartmentadapted to deliver cups individually released to said compartment, spoutreceiving means above said compartment for receiving the spout of saidcontainer in a position to deliver liquid to a cup supported in saidcompartment, a movable cup guard member which in one operative positionis disposed in non-obstructing relation to said cup delivering passagesand in another operative position is disposed in obstructing relation tosaid passages, spout guard means normally disposed out of relation tothe delivery end of said spout and movable into guarding relation tosaid spout, and means adapted through the opening of said window memberto move said cup guard member to said passage obstructing position andsaid spout guard means to said spout guarding position.

12. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a body framemember for mounting in an opening in said door and having an openingextending from the forward to the rearward side of said door, a cupsupporting tray part removably engaged in the lower portion of saidopening and projecting rearwardly therefrom to provide a cup supportingcompartment, a cup feeding chute part at the inner side of said bodyframe member disposed above said rearwardly projecting portion of saidtray part and having passages leading to said compartment adapted todeliver cups individually rei leased to said compartment, said chutepart comprising a chute member secured to the inner side of said bodyframe part and a second chute member removably secured to said firstchute member, a closure panel hinged at the forward side of said bodyframe part having an opening substantially in register with the openingof said body frame part, and a vertically movable window carried by saidpanel normally closing said opening and adapted upon being raised togive access to said compartment.

13. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a body framemember for mounting in an opening in said door and having an openingextending from the forward to the rearward side of said door, a cupsupporting tray part removably engaged in the lower portion of saidopening and projecting rearwardly therefrom to provide a cup supportingcompartment, said tray part being removable forwardly through saidopening in said body frame part, a cup feeding chute part at the innerside of said body frame member disposed above said rearwardly projectingportion of said tray part and having passages leading to saidcompartment adapted to deliver cups individually released to saidcompartment, said chute part comprising a chute member secured to theinner side of said body frame part and a second chute member removablysecured to said first chute member, a closure panel hinged at theforward side of said body frame part having an opening substantially inregister with the opening of said body frame part, a vertically movablewindow carried by said panel normally closing said opening and adaptedupon being raised to give access to said compartment, said panel in itsnormally closed position, adapted to retain said tray part in engagedrelation with said body frame part, and latch means accessible from theinner side of said door normally retaining said closure panel in closedposition.

14. ln a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid `container having a spout, a body framemember for mounting in` an opening in said door and having an openingextending vfrom the forward to the rearward side of said door, a cupsupporting tray part removably engaged in the lower portion of saidopening and projecting rearwardly therefrom to provide a cup supportingcompartment, a

cup feeding chute part at the inner side of said body e frame memberdisposed above said rearwardly projecting portion of said tray part andhaving passages leading to said compartment adapted to deliver cupsindividually released to said compartment, said chute part comprising achute member secured to the inner side of said body frame part and asecond chute member removably secured to said first chute member, a cupguard member vertically movable in said chute part adapted in a loweroperative position to be disposed in non-obstructing relation to saidpassages, and in a raised operative position io be disposed inobstructing relation to said passages. said cup guard member beingremovable upon removal of said second chute member, a closure panelhinged at the forward side of said body frame part having an openingsubstantially in register with the opening of said body frame part, avertically movable window carried by said panel normally closing saidopening and adapted upon being raised to give access to saidcompartment, and means carried by said window adapted during raisingmovement thereof to move said cup guard member to its raised position.

15. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a body framemember for mounting in an opening in said door and having an openingextending from the forward to the rearward side of said door, a cupsupporting tray part removably engaged in the lower portion of saidopening and projecting rearwardly therefrom to provide a cup supportingcompartment, a cup feeding chute part at the inner side of said bodyframe member disposed above said rearwardly projecting portion of saidtray part and having passages leading to said compartment adapted todeliver cups individually released thereto to said compartment, saidchute part comprising a chute member secured to the inner side of saidbody frame part and a second chute member removably secured to saidfirst chute member, a pair of spout guard arms pivotally mounted betweensaid first and second chute members and removable upon removal of saidsecond chute member, said guard arms normally lying in said passages andadapted upon being moved upwardly to be disposed in guarding relation tosaid spout, a closure panel hinged at the forward side of said bodyframe part having an opening substantially in line with the opening ofsaid body frame part, a vertically movable window carried by said panelnormally closing said opening and `adapted upon being raised to giveaccess to said compartment, and means actuated by the raising of saidwindow adapted to move said arms to spout guarding position.

16. In a cup dispensing apparatus for mounting in a door of a cabinetwherein is disposed a liquid container having a spout, a body framemember for mounting in an opening in said door and having an openingextending from the forward to the rearward side of said door, a cupsupporting tray part removably engaged in the lower portion of saidopening and projecting rearwardly therefrom to provide a cup supportingcompartment, a cup feeding chute part at the inner side of said bodyframe member disposed above said rearwardly projecting portion of saidtray part and having passages leading to said compartment adapted todeliver cups individually released thereto to said compartment, saidchute part comprising a chute member secured to the inner side of saidbody frame part and a second chute member removably secured to saidfirst chute member, a pair of spout guard arms pivotally mounted betweensaid first and second chute members and removable upon removal of saidsecond chute member, said guard arms normally lying in said passages andadapted upon being moved upwardly to be disposed in guarding relation tosaid spout, a cup guard member vertically movable in said chute partadapted in a lower operative position to be disposed in nonobstructingrelation to said passages and in a raised operative position to bedisposed in obstructing relation to said passages, said cup guard memberadapted upon being raised to swing said arms to spout guarding position,a closure panel hinged at the forward side of said body frame parthaving an opening substantially in register with the opening of saidbody frame part, a vertically movable window carried by said panelnormally closing said opening and adapted upon being raised to giveaccess to said compartment, and means carried by said window adaptedduring raising movement thereof to move said cup guard member to itsraised-position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,779,839 Bigelow Oct. 28, 1930 1,952,447 Madden Mar. 27, 1934 2,005,556Brady May 7, 1935 2,321,844 Nicholson June 15, 1943

